SriLanka, Sept. 25 -- Economic growth in developing Asia and the Pacific will moderate from 5.5% in 2025 to 5% this year before edging up to 5.1% in 2027, according to a new report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The 2026 forecast is 0.1 percentage points higher than the previous outlook in July.

"The region has remained resilient, but the risks are growing," said ADB President Masato Kanda. "A strengthening El Nino with drier conditions means smaller harvests and reduced hydropower, pushing food and energy prices higher, and hitting the most vulnerable the hardest. The prolonged energy crisis and renewed risks in financial markets make it even more important for governments to prepare and protect the people most exposed. ADB is str...